paper. I am indebted to my friend, the late Captain Ward, for this discovery, and a schedule of its excellent performance.

SILK-CARTRIDGES.

Since using the candle cartridges, I tried (with a heavy shoulder-gun) the experiment of putting the common cartridges into tight bags of silk, tied at the top with mere worsted, in order to prevent their "balling." They shot capitally; and surpassed every thing for the convenience of drawing out, and keeping sound in wet weather. But, as Eley's cartridges are at last made so perfect as to beat all the others, I shall now use and recommend none but his, for all shooting beyond the range of a common charge. I therefore advised him to try some kind of oil or varnish, in order to make them stand the damp like my silk ones, which, since the eighth edition, he has done to perfection.

FIRING.

The firing of these guns, at long distances, requires some practice, by reason that, before the shot can travel a hundred yards, the birds, if quick-sighted, will be on the move, particularly if they see the flash. No one had ever the kindness to tell me this, when I first used a long gun; till, after some time, wondering what was the matter that I could not kill (not being able to see through the smoke), I fired at a mixture of curlews and gulls; the latter of which were killed, and the others never touched.

By this I discovered, that the one, being quicksighted and active birds, sprung before the shot got to them; while the others, not being able to get out of the way, were killed. A little elevation for the gun (in which a few shots at a mark will direct you), and a pretty good elevation for the springing of the birds, according to what birds they are, is absolutely necessary, and practice alone will best teach this. Suffice it to say, however, that a man, to be a good shot, with a large gun, has even more to learn than to shoot well in the field; particularly when he comes to cross shots at flocks going past, where, sometimes, there may be required a yard of elevation, and ten yards' allowance for the distance they are at, and the rapidity of their flight.

As it becomes necessary, when approaching wild birds, to be well concealed in your punt, you are obliged to fire these guns, lying down as close as possible on your chest. You should use the "stem-piece" to support the breast. If you put your cheek to the stock, your shoulder-bone in contact with the but, or your second finger behind the trigger, you run a risk of having them severely jarred; but, if you manage the gun properly, the sensation, with a light charge, is no more than that of firing powder from a small gun; and the report, to the shooter, seems a mere nothing. To fire a stanchion gun, put your left hand over the but, and regulate it to the line of aim, while your cheek gently grazes the back of the hand. Put all the fingers of your right hand before the trigger, keeping the thumb out of the way; and be careful not to let your knees come in contact with the timbers of the boat. By observing well these directions, a child

might fire this gun with as much safety as the smallest fowling-piece.

In firing a punt-gun (without any stanchion) from the shoulder, you must lean hard against the upper part of the padded but; and have the gun as top heavy as you can possibly overbear, by which means the friction of the stock against the "gunning-bench," and the check of your shoulder, prevents the gun from running too far under your arm. Never attempt to shoot a barrel so short as six feet in this way, as it might fly up and hurt you. Always try these guns with a quarter of a charge first; and increase the loading with an ounce of shot each round. By this means you avoid the risk of a recoil, as you then gradually ascertain how much ammunition can be fired with ease to the shoulder.

If you are so fortunate as to get a line of birds, shoot rather beyond the first of them, which will then be taken by the lower shot. You may thus (with mould shot) sweep the water from one to two hundred yards, and possibly kill some of them all the way, from one of these distances to the other.

The advantage of a stanchion-gun over a shoulder duck-gun is far more than that of the latter over a common sporting gun; and so generally has this of late years been found out, that, now-a-days, but little can be done without one, on any part of the English

coast.

PUNT FOR THE USE OF A STANCHION-GUN.

A gunning-punt, which is very narrow, although it may row fast, is extremely dangerous, and will not answer for going in shallow water, which is the grand object, in order to get up to the birds before the tide has flowed high enough to drive them off their legs, and disperse them.

All round-bottomed punts, such as are used at Southampton and Itchen Ferry, and most of those at East Yarmouth, are on a bad construction, except merely to sail about with a shoulder-gun; because they have such unsteady bearings, and are so built, that the gun, and the man's head who fires it, must appear considerably above the gunwale. The consequence is, that he frightens away half the birds which he ought to kill; and can never regulate his gun for shooting in the dark. In short, clincher and carvel built boats are only used by those, who, whatever they may fancy, are not finished masters of their business.

All gunning-punts should be as flat as possible in the bottom (except having the necessary "kammeling," to "give them life"); by which they draw far less water, and are so stiff, that it becomes impossible to capsize them. If an accident did happen, it would be by their filling and sinking, but not upsetting, as the before-mentioned boats might do; and, as a still further guard against which, these boats may be decked all the way from "stern to mid-ships," and half way round the sides.

There is not a boat builder in a thousand who

knows any thing about punts, as the best gunners generally make their own, and keep the secret to themselves; or, at all events, from the boat-builders, who would otherwise be making them for every shooter in the port. The best way, therefore, is to get an able gunner to find head, and a good inland carpenter, who works much better and neater at this light board work than a boat-builder, to find hands and tools.

Several boat-builders have over-hauled mine when they could find a chance to do so; and every one of their productions, that I have yet seen, was quite laughable; though, to all outward appearance, a good imitation. If, therefore, they succeed now, it is but fair to infer that it will be through the help of these engravings.

Having treated further, perhaps, than was necessary on shooting punts in general, I shall first give a sketch of my best single-gun punt, as useful to every one who sets up a large gun, in a plain way; and then conclude with explaining the one alluded to, which I have found to answer best, taking into consideration safety, comfort, and every other point requisite for those sportsmen to whom is offered this part of the book.